Jim Morrison - "Final 24: HIs Final Hours" DVD

Doors frontman and consummate rock god/sex symbol/dark poet Jim Morrison was a symbol of a generation, and his on-and-offstage antics led to some of rock's greatest recordings, as well as some of the most storied antisocial/substance-abuse tales. Retreating to Paris in 1971 to write, create, and evade the intrusive media, Morrison's self-destructive behaviors finally caught up with him, and at 27 years of age, Morrison succumbed to a fatal overdose of alcohol and heroin.

This 60-minute Canadian TV program merely skims the surface of Morrison's Doors career, and instead examines the songwriter's last hours. His demise, which is portrayed convincingly by actors, is illustrated well. Commentary from associates and historians (as well as a fair amount of archival footage) also helps to paint a descriptive and appropriate picture of the singer's final 24 hours. Sensational? Perhaps, but also a solid documentary of the pitfalls of one of the world's all-time greatest rock icons. (MVD Visual)

John F. Kennedy Jr. - "Final 24: His Final Hours" DVD

The nearest to royalty that America has likely ever had, JFK Jr. was besieged by the tragic assassinations of both his father and uncle. And though in some ways, he led a charmed life, JFK Jr. was always thrust in the spotlight (whether he wanted to be or not) and the pressure to live up to his family's expectations had to be an extraordinarily heavy burden for anyone. His unplanned exit from this world can be seen as yet another evidence of the supposed "Kennedy curse", or can it?

This 60-minute documentary details the events leading up to the fateful night in 1999 when John (and his wife and sister-in-law) all went down with the small plane he was piloting near Martha's Vineyard. Bits of basic biographical info, photos, film footage, and interviews with colleagues and associates all congeal with believable dramatic recreations to form a palatable and educational look at the man's life. And though obviously focused on Kennedy's premature death (witness the title of this morbid but fascinating series), this one's a well-done and concise look at the short life of an American enigma. (MVD Visual)

Hunter S. Thompson - "Final 24 - His Final Hours" DVD

Hunter Thompson lived the life that many of us envy. His steadfast idealism took him on a journey that certainly wasn't easy, but in the end, he did what, and when, he wanted. The fact that he's an icon of independent thinking and considered among America's most inspirational and gifted writers places him alongside names like Burroughs or Kerouac.

But you can read numerous bios and watch documentaries to get his detailed background, and this is not the place for all that. Suffice to say, this 60-minute TV program chiefly examines, in detail, the last hours of a man ravaged by years of drugs and drinks who felt he was losing the freedoms he'd so gallantly fought for over the course of his storied life. Thompson took his own life in 2005 at the age of 67. His passing caused no speculation nor controversy. He had warned of it years before, and his failing health (coupled with painkillers and bourbon) only served to stoke the internal fires within the troubled man's mind. "Final 24" recreates scenes from Thompson's final hours, and does an admirable job illustrating the scenes leading up to his demise. As well, friends and family are interviewed, so there are valid insights here. As a bio, though, "Final 24" only scratches the surface. That it's merely focused on the morbid aspects of the author's final moments is evidence that there are better and more comprehensive docs out there, and this one's really only for the serious fans and students of Dr. Thompson's life and times. R.I.P. Doc. (MVD Visual)

Hunter S. Thompson fan site

River Phoenix - "Final 24 - His Final Hours" DVD

When a rising celebrity dies young, the repercussions can be felt for a long while. This short 60-minute documentary outlines the events leading up to the fateful night that 23-year old actor River Phoenix died in 1993. It's a well-done program, and although such recreations/dramatizations usually seem a bit overbaked to me, in this case they're not particularly harmful to the discussions and stories included here.

Featuring interviews with many of Phoenix's friends and associates, and enhanced by plenty of photos and rare video footage, "Final 24" offers a sympathetic glimpse into the troubled life of an icon who aspired to do much more than just act. His musical passion is seen as he befriended Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, and was even set to perform onstage with Flea (as well as Gibby Haynes, Al Jourgensen, and Johnny Depp) the very night he died after ingesting a massive speedball.

River Phoenix represented the idealism of a new generation, and his passing left the world a lesser place. And although this "Final 24" series is perhaps a mite morbid and sensationalistic, it's certainly a curious program worthy of some attention.
(MVD Visual)

A devoted Phoenix fansite

Marvin Gaye - "Final 24 - His Final Hours" DVD

At 44 years of age, Motown legend Marvin Gaye had already lived a life full of majestic highs and tragic lows. His murder at the hands of his controlling father was in 1984 was the end of a ride that saw Marvin reach international stardom and subsequently fall from grace due to issues with drugs and family strife. He was one of music's beloved icons, with a string of early soul hits that transcended the genre and reached into pop and mainstream success.

This 60-minute dramatization-documentary includes interviews with several of Gaye's family members and friends, and traces the path that Marvin took when he became increasingly paranoid (from his cocaine habit) and tangled with his troubled father. "Final 24" is respectful, and chooses to examine only the facts and not speculate on other issues in Gaye's life. It's an enlightening and not-too-sensationalistic examination of the events that led up to one of music's most influential icons' last moments. (MVD Visual)

An informative Marvin Gaye website